Truck



R. FARIES Oct. 11, 1938.

TRUCK Filed Oct. 1, 1936 16 Sheets-Sheet l fim NT N QNL INVENTOR. Robert Fax i55 BY ATTNEYS.

WITNEgE Oct. 11, 1938.

TRUCK R. FARIES Filed Oct. 1, 1936 16 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: Roman? Farms,

TORNEYS.

Oct. 11, 1938. RFARlEs 1 2,132,612

THU-CK Filed Oct. 1, 19 36 16Sheets-Sheet 5 ,INVENTOR:

WITNESSES: m 4

1 iioiwrifi Farms, 5

Oct; 11, 1938. lEs 2,132,612

TRUCK Filed Oct. 1, 1936 16 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 11, 1938.

R. FARIES TRUCK Filed 001;. 1, 1956 16 Sheets-Sheet 6 51 ififl gg 155 el WITNES 1 N VEN TOR:

Rob/art Furies, I ,f I 2 A I RNEYS.

Oct. 11, 1938. R. F'ARIES 2,132,612

TRUCK Filed Oct. 1, 1936 16 Sheets-Sheet 8 112 xmmx-mm-u INVENTOR.

B02152"; Furies BY ORNEYS.

Oct. 11, 1938.

FIG; m.

R. FARIES TRUCK Filed Oct. 1, 1936 16 Sheets-Sheet 9 1NVENTO R. Robert Farms ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 11, 1938. R. FARIES 2,132,612 A TRUCK Filed Oct. 1, 1956 16 Sheets-Sheet 1o W1 TNES-lfi I INVENTOR;

%% Rahal 2, Furies BY 66%; WTORNEYS.

Oct. 11, 1938. lEs 2,132,612

TRUCK Filed Oct 1, 1936 16 Sheets-Sheet ll mvmrog. Hobart Farms,

.1m gymm 'I/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ORNEYS.

Oct. 11, 1938.

R. FARIES 1 ,6

TRUCK Filed Oct. 1, 1956 l6 Sheets-Sheet 12 WITNESSES:

I N VEN TOR: Robert Farms,

(if @@i% A RNEYS.

Oct. 11, 1938. R Es 2,132,612

TRUCK Filed Oct. '1, 1956 16 Sheets-Sheet l3 WITNESSES:

4 %g I B? Rah 5n? Furies, 1 m% v W ORNEYS.

%Z@Z4 Z I By R. FARIES 2,132,612

TRUCK Filed Oct. 1, 1956 l6 Sheets-Sheet 14 FIG IN V EN TOR.-

. T ORNEYS.

R. FARIES Oct. 11, 1938.

TRUCK l6 Sheets-Sheet 16 Filed 001:. l, 1956 INVENTOiQ. Roberfi Farms,

ATTORNEYS.

HGL EZT Patented Oct. 11, 1938 UNITED STATE Timon Robert Faries, Application October 1,

" 20 Claims.

This invention relates to trucks; and it has reference more particularly to motor trucks with flat platforms for transporting containers such as are used in the shipment of freight inless than j 5 carload lots by rail.

In connection with trucks of the type specifically referred to, I aim to provide simple and reliable lifting mechanism whereby the trdckplatform can be raised or lowered to the levels of loadingplatforms of different] heights .to enable transfer of the containers from the one to the other without the aid of special lifting tackle such as is ordinarily required.

My invention is also whereby, upon vertical movement. ,of the truck platform beyond prescribed limits with jack screw lifting, mechanism, the jack screws are rendered inoperative for the protection of the lifting mechanism against derangement or injury.

My invention is further concerned with the provision of incorporated mechanism for'moving the containers between the truck and loading platforms with ability to right the containers in casethey should tend to deviate from a straight course of travel incident to being transferred to and from the truck platform. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide for the actuation of the lifting and transfer mechanisms aforesaid from a common power source driven from the truck motor under manual control.

Still another object of my invention isto provide for quick and easy coupling of the shipping container with, as well as for its quick and easy release from the transfer mechanism on the I truck.

I In addition to the foregoing, I aim to provide'in a truck having the foregoing .attributes, quick releasable means for securing the container against the possibility of shifting on the truck platform during transit.

Other objects and attendant advantages will appear from the following detailed description of the attached drawings, wherein Fig. I shows, in .plan, a truck conveniently embodying my invention alongside a loading platform in readiness to receive a shipping container from said plat .form, a portion of the truck platform being 50 broken out to expose important underlying details which would otherwise be hidden.

M Fig. II is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, taken as indicated by thearrow's II-II in Fig. I.

Fig/III is aside elevation of a truck viewed directed toward the'provi- 415 sion of safety means,

St. Davids, Pa. 7 a

192 Serial K631113502 jaslmaieated' by the arrows III'-III in'Fig. I, with a portion of the truck platform broken out and shown in longitudinal section.

' Fig. IV shows the front elevation of the truck.

Fig; V is .a fragmentary sectional view in plan taken as indicated by II and III.

FigVI is a view similar to Fig. V with certain ofthe parts in different positions. t

Fig. VII is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken .asindicated by the arrows VII-VII in 'Fig. I. i

Fig. VIII is a fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated bythe, arrows VIII--VIII in Figs. I, II, andVII.

Fig. IX is a fragmentary sectional view'taken as indicated 'bythe-arrows IX-IX, in Fig. I.

Fig. X is a fragmentary sectional viewtaken as indicated by the arrows X-X in. Figs. I and V. I Figs. and XII are views corresponding to Fig. X with. certain of the parts differently positioned. r I

the arrows V-V in Figs.

a I III is @Qdfltfli]. sectional View taken as indicated by the arrows XIII-XIII in Fig. I, showing one form of coupling means for connecting the shipping container to the transfer mech-' anism on the truck.

Fig. XIV is a detail view taken as indicated by the arrows XIV-XIV in Fig. XIII. m Fig. XV is a detail sectional view takenas indicated by the arrows XV-XV in Fig. XIV.

. Fig. XVI isa fragmentary view partly in plan and partly in plan section showing an alternative form of coupling device. Y a M Fig. XVII is a sectional view taken as indicated bythe arrowsXVIL-XVII, in'Fig. XVI.

. Fig. XVIII is a fragmentary detail sectionalview taken as indicated by the arrows XVIII-XVIII in Fig. I showing the means for securing the container against shifting on the truck during transit. a

Fig. XIX is a view like Fig. XVIII with the parts differently positioned.

Fig. XX is a view looking asindicated by the arrows XX-XXin Fig. XIX with a portion of the truck platform broken out and in section.

1 FignXXI is a view corresponding to Fig. I showing an alternative form of my improved truck. I

Fig. XXII is a side elevation of the truck viewed as indicated by the arrows XXII-XXII .in XXI with portions of the truck broken out and in section.

, -Fig. XXIII is a View showing the truck partly in end elevation and partly in transverse section.

Fig.

and provided at its front Incorporated with the .shown in Fig. IV.

Fig. XXIV is a detail sectional View taken as indicated by the arrows Xifl'VXCV in Fig. XXI

Fig. XXVII is a view partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section of another alternative form of my improved truck.

Fig. XXVIII is a view like Fig. XVI of a modifled coupling means.

Fig. XXIX is a sectional view taken as indi cated by the arrows XXVIII.

Figs. XXX and XXXI are views corresponding to Figs. XXVIII and XXEX of another modified form of coupling means.

Figs. XXXII and XXIHII are views also like Figs. XXVIII and XXI showing another type of coupling means.

Fig. XXXIV is a view similar to Fig. XXXII with certain of the parts differently positioned. Fig. XXXV is a fragmentary view looking as indicated by the arrows'XXXV-JQiXV in Fig. XXXIV.

Fig. XXXVI is adetail sectional view taken as indicated by the arrows XXXVI-XXXVI in Fig. XXXV. 1

Fig. XXXVII is a fragmentary view partly in plan and partly in section of another form of coupling means. p I

Fig. XXXVIII is a section taken as indicated by the arrows XXXVIII-XXXV1II in Fig. XXXVII. 7

Figs. XXXIX and XL are detail views like Figs. XXXVII and XXXVIII of another form of coupling means; and V Fig. XLI is a detail section taken as indicated by the arrows XLIXLI in Fig. XL.

Considering the form of my invention delineated in Figs. I-XII and having more detailed reference first more particularly to Figs. I-IV of XXIX-XECIX in Fig.

these illustrations, T comprehensively designates the truck, and P a raised loading platform to or from which shipping containers such as the one 1 spaced caterpillar'chains C. As featured, the

truck T is of the semi-trailer type having its chassis frame I supported with interposition of leaf springs 2, by a wheel axle 3 at the rear end,

end with a swivel coupling projection 4 for connection to a suitable bogey motor truck, not illustrated. Bolted at intervals to the inner face of the side rail 5 of the chassis frame I' are upwardly reaching brackets 1 (see Figs. I, II, and VII) with spaced bearing bosses 8 supporting bushings 9. Engaging these bushings 9 in bosses 8 are pivot lugs II which are secured to the bottoms of the intermediate cross bars I2 of a supplemental horizontal structuralv iron frame I3 above the chassis frame I, immediately inward ofthe side rail l5 of said supplemental frame. supplemental frame i3 is a floor of concrete or the like with resultant formation of a flush topped platform I! on which the container S is sustained during transit as Due to being pivotally supported along one of its side edges as just explained, the truck platform H can be moved dash lines in Fig. IV, and its free side edge therefsaid shaft and which mesh with a gear 45 on a countershaft 46 within said housing.

the intervals between the loading platforms of with the intermediate cross bars l2 of the latter.

Cooperating with the jack screws l8 are worm wheel nuts23 (Figs. 1, V, and IX) within housings 25 attached to the inner face of the side rail'6 of the chassis frame I, said worm wheel nuts being operable in unison by as many individual intermeshing worms 26 on a longitudinal shaft 21 which is Journaled in bearings 28 afforded by said housings 25. At the front of the truck, the shaft 21 extends through a sleeve 29 into a housing 30 secured to the outer face of the end rail 3! of the chassis frame I, see Figs. I, V, and IX. The sleeve 29 is loose on the shaft 21 and formed at its outer end with a clutch face 33 which opposes an axially shiftable clutch collar 35 splined to said shaft, said collar having an actuating lever 36 which is swingable about a fixed pivot pin 31. A torsion spring 38 (Figs. V, VI, and X) is influential upon the lever 36 to normally retain the clutch collar 35 retracted from the clutch face 33 of the sleeve 29. Secured to the inner end of the sleeve 29 is a bevel gear pinion '39 which meshes with a similar pinion 40 at one end of a transverse shaft 4|. As shown, the shaft 4| lies crosswise of the front of the chassis frame I with'its opposite end extending into another housing 42 attached to said frame. Within the housing 42 (Fig. V), the shaft 4| carries a pair of spaced oppositely-disposed beveled pinions 43, 44 which are loose on master bevel By means of an axially-shiftable clutch collar 41 (Figs. IV and VII) on the shaft 4| operable through a pivoted control handle 48 at the exterior of the housing 42, the bevel pinions 43 and 44 can be selectively coupled with said shaft. Also aiiixed to the shaft 46 is a worm wheel 49 which is arranged to be driven by a worm 50 at the lower end of a vertical shaft 5| (Fig. VIII) within the housing 42, said shaft 5| extending down through the bottom of said housing for connection, by a flexible shaft 52, with the motor of the bogey truck used with the trailer truck of my invention. Medially pivoted to a lug 53. at the bottom of the housing 42 is a lever 54 whereof one end 55 engages an aperture 56 in the control handle 43 (Figs. V-VII), and whereof the other end has the form of a cam sector 51 with a central notch 58. Journaled in a fixed bracket 59 on the chassis frame I immediately adjacent the housing 42 is a short vertical shaft 60 with a roller arm 6| at its lower end to cooperate with the cam sector 57 of the lever 54. To the top of the shaft 60 is secured an arm 62, which, by means of a link rod 63, is coupled with a slide 64 con- I '36. Accordingly; when the'control handle 48 municated lows:

rail I of the chassis frame I.

drawal of the stop bolts 15 from is swung in one direction or the other to couple the bevel pinion 4:3,, or the pinion 44 with the master bevel gear 45, the clutch collar35 is concurrently shifted into'engagementwith the clutch face 33 of the sleeve 29 as shown inFig. W by action of the cam lever 54 and the interposed connections just described, so that motion is comconcurrently in one direction or the other to the jack screws I0 with; consequent raising or lowering of the platform ll of the truck.

In order to relieve the jack screws I8 of the weight of the platform I1, and its load during travel of the truck, means areprovided as fol- Suspended from the bottom of the truck platvform II near its free longitudinal edge are arouate members 10 of which the curvature has its center in the pivot axis of said frame, seeFigs.

IV and VIII. As shown, these arcuatestruts I0 are pivotally connected at their upper ends to .lugs'II fastened to the cross bars I2 of the truck platform I1 I for capacity to adapt themselves to guides "I2 affixed to the outer :face of the side From Figs. III, V, and VI, it will be observed that the struts III .are of channel cross sectional configuration; and bolted within hollows of said struts are blocks 13 with lateral recesses 14 adapted to be engaged "by stop bolts 15 when the truck platform I1 is in its normal horizontal position; As shown in Fig. VIII, the stop bolts 15 are longitudinally slotted at "I6 for passage of a shaft I1, and are moreover vertically open as at IB-to clear eccentrics 19 on said shaft, which latteris journaled in the guides". By turning the shaft 11 to actuate the eccentrics 19, it will :be evident that the stop bolts I5 will be withdrawn from the notches 14 in the blocks 13 on the struts 10 when the truck platform 11 is to be raised or lowered relative to its normal horizontal position. Affixed to the shaft 11 within the housing isa spur pinion which meshes with a spur gear III on a short'shaft 82 also journaled within said housing. Meshing with a spur gear -83 .afiixed to the gear -BI is a 'gear sector 85 (Figs. IV, V, and VIII) which is fulcrumed .on a fixed bearing '86 at the bottom of the housing 30 and provided with a pendant arm 81. A link rod 88 connects the sector arm 81 with the arm 89 of a control lever handle 90 which is swingable horizontally about 'a fulcrum axis 9.I on the fixed bracket plate 59. As shown in Fig. V, the bracket plate 59 has a curved edge 92 concentric'with the axis BI, and is formed with spaced notches '93 and 94 for engagement'by able latch member 95 associated with the control handle 90. Movement of the control handle 90 from the position shown in Fig. V to that shown in Fig. VI, will, through the intermediate connections just described, be attended by a partial rotation of the shaft 11 and incidentalwiththe struts 10. After this is accomplished, the jack screws I8 can be operated to raise or lower the intermediate frame I3 under control ofthe handle 48 in the manner already understood. vNormally, the control handle 48 is locked .in :the vertical or neutral position centrallyof the 'notched guide segment 95 with which its latch 96 cooperates,

as-shown in Figs'IV and V, by means of a clevised locking member '91. end, the locking "member Near its c'levise'd 91 engages a fixed edge I notches I0 I platform is active position by dropping of the roller a manually releasgaging the screw rotation in the guideways formed jointly by the As shown,

bottom of the housing 42 for confinement to longitudinal sliding movement,

and at its opposite end has a pivotal connection 10 before the control handle 48' can be used to initiate operation of the jack screws I8. The locking member 19 thus constitutesa safety means to insure against derange- '.ment of the lifting mechanism or injury thereto. I Adjustably secured to the strut I0 nearest the front of the truck, is a correspondingly shaped cam piece I00 (Figs. IV, V, VI, X, XI) with I02 equally spaced from a similar medial edge notch I03. When the truck in its normal horizontal position, the medial notch I03 of the cam piece I00 is occupied by aroller I05 on the arm. 69 of the clutch lever 36. Somewhat above and below its medial notch I03, the cam piece I00 has laterally projecting studs I06, I01 adapted to cooperate with the hook finger GI'. Immediately, as the clutch lever 36 is swung to the position shown in Fig. VI by manipulation of the control handle 48, the roller I05 is withdrawn from the notch I03 of the cam piece I00 by means of the pivoted hook finger '61 of the slide 64 with attendant connection of the clutch 35. As the cam piece I00 moves up or down in following the movements .of the, truck platform II, the finger 61 is swung about its pivotal connection with the slide '64 in opposition to springs shown at I09 through engagement thereof with the stud I06 or 47116 stud I01 as the case may be, with attendant release of the clutch lever 36 to the action of the torsion spring 38. As the movement of the frame I3 continues, the roller I05 will roll along'the edge segment I I0 or the edge segment I II of the cam piece I00 with the clutch collar 35 maintained in coupled engagement with the sleeve 29 to keep the jack screws I8 in op- I-Iowever, if the platform I3 is raised or lowered beyond the limits defined by the notches IOI, IOZ-in-the cam piece I00, the clutch collar 35 will be automatically retracted to in- I05 on 64 into one'of said notches, as exemthe slide XII, with the hook member 61 plified in Fig.

' swung aside and its book end 58 resting on the projection 69, and the jack screws I8 idled as a consequence. Upon movement of the control handle 48 through its neutral position to reverse the lifting mechanism, the slide 64 will be retracted by the spring '65 and permit the finger GI'to resume its normal horizontal position with its hook end '68 forward of the projection of the clutch lever 36 as in Fig. X.

For the purpose of transferring the shipping container between the truck and the loading platform, I have provided mechanism including a pair of transverse screw spindles H2 which lie in the intervals between closely spaced pairs of auxiliary cross bars "I I3 on the truck platform I3. The ends of the screw spindles II2 are journaled in bearing blocks such as the one shown at H5 in Fig. VIII, set into the hollows of the .channel .side rails I5, :IB of the truck platform frame. En-

spindles H2 and held against auxiliary cross bars II3 of the truck platform l3 are nut followers IIB which afford loose pivotal connections ll-l for individually associated draft bars I I8 which may be of the form detailed in each .of these draft bars II8 has'at one side of the pivot II1 a relatively long portion II9 provided with a tapered end and a longitudinal series of apertures I20, while the portion I2I at the other side of said pivot is very much shorter and provided with but a single aperture I22. A connecting rod I23 serves to keep the draft bars H8 in parallel relation. The apertures in the draft bars II8 are adapted for selective engagement with coupling pins I24 which are removable from clevis blocks I25 set into access openings I26 at the sides' of the shipping container S, below the container bottom. From Fig. XIII it will be noted that the slots of the clevis blocks I25 are beveled as at I21 and rounded as at I28 to facilitate entry of the draft bars H8 and to permit angular up and down movement of said bars about their pivotal connections III with the screw spindle followers I I6. Respectively secured to the spindles I I2 immediately inward of the side rail I of the truck platform frame are spur pinions I29 which mesh with companion spur gears I36, on short parallel shifts I 3I, within housings I32, attached to said rails. Through miter gear couples shown at I33, I34 and I35, I36 in Figs. I, II, and VIII, the short shafts I3! (and hence the screw spindles II2) are arranged to be driven respectively from aligned longitudinal shafts I 31, I38 which are journaled in the pivot bushings 9 of the brackets 1. The miter pinion I34 is loose on the shaft I31 but can be coupled therewith by means of a clutch I39 (Figs. II and VIII) having a control handle I40. The bevel pinion I36 on the other hand, is fixed on the shaft I38 which latter can be coupled with the shaft I31 by means of a clutch I under control of a handle I42. At the front of the truck, a spur gear I43, on the shaft I 31 meshes with a spur gear I45 on a shaft I46 which extends into thehousing 42 (Figs. II and VII), and which, within said housing carries a pair of loosely mounted opposingljz-arranged bevel pinions I41, I48. A bevel gear I49 common to the pinions I41, I48 is affixed with a worm wheel I50 to a counter shaft I5I also'within the housing 42, said worm wheel meshing with another worm I52 on the vertical power shaft 5I hereinbefore mentioned. The bevel pinions I41, I48 are selectively connectible to the shaft I46 for reverse driving of the screw spindles II2 by means of an axially shiftable clutch collar I53, which, as shown in Figs. II, IV, VII, and VIII, is operable by a control handle I55 accessible at the exterior of the housing 42. As a result of this arrangement, the screw spindles II 2 can be driven in unison in either direction when the bevel pinion I34 is coupled with the shaft I31 and the latter with the shaft I38, or said spindles driven independently under control of the clutches I39, I4I. When a shipping container is to be moved onto the truck from the station platform, the draft bars H8 are engaged with the clevis blocks I25 on said container as. shown in Figs. XIII-XV and the screw spindles II2 set into motion in the proper direction to shift the followers I I6. After the followers II6 have traveled the length of the screw spindles I I2, the coupling pins I24 are withdrawn from the clevis blocks I25 on the shipping container. The screw spindles II 2 are thereupon reversed to advance the followers II6 until the apertures I22 in the short ends I2I of the draft bars II 8 register with those in the clevis blocks I25 on the container, and upon recoupling the screw spindles are again operated as at first to bring said container into final position on .the truck platform. If during this loading operation,

it should be necessary to right the container from an angular path of travel, this may be readily "effected through individual actuation of the screw spindles II2 by the control means provided for that purpose. Shiftingof a container S from the truck to the station platform can obviously be effected by reversal of the above procedure.

At I 56 in Figs. I-IV, I have shown quick release devices for securing the container S against shifting on the truck during transit. As detailed in Figs. XXVIII-XXX each such device I56 comprises a claw I51 which is adapted to engage an aperture I58 in one end wall of the shipping container, and which is pivotally connected at I59 to the top end of a vertical screw bolt I60 passing down through the flanges of the corresponding end rail of the truck platform I3. A handnut I6I confined to rotation by the lower flange of the rail engages the threads at the lower end of the screw bolt I60. Normally, the claw I 51 occupies the retracted position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. XVIII so as to be out of the way when the container is moved onto or off the truck. After the container is in position on the truck platform, the claw I51 is first swung into the opening I58 in the container as shown in full lines in Fig. XVIII and thereafter drawn downward to the position shown in Fig. XIX into firm clamping engagement with the lower edge of the opening I58 by manipulation of the hand nut I 6I; As shown in Fig. XX the opening I58 is made quite wide to facilitate registration with the claw I51.

In the alternate embodiment of my truck illustrated in Figs. XXI-XXVI, the truck platform I 3a is fulcrumed at its front end'to swing about pivot pins 9a in bearings 8a afforded by upwardly-reaching brackets 1a at the corresponding end of the chassis frame Ia. The lifting mechanism for the platform I3a in this instance, includes a single central jack screw I8a which engages a vertical sleeve 23a confined to axial movement in the guide boss I6I of a housing 25a immediately forward of the wheel axle 3a. The housing 25a is supported centrally of a cross member I62 which is pivotally connected by means of trunnions I63 at its ends, to bearing blocks I65 set into the channels of the chassis frame side rails 5a, 6a. To the upper end of the sleeve 23a is secured a cross arm I66 Whereof the ends are pivotally connected at I61 to pendant bearings I68 on thetruck platform I3a. Accordingly, as the platform I3a is raised or lowered, the jack screw I8a can take various angular positions to accommodate the movement of said platform about its fulcrum connections 9a with the chassis frame Ia. Extending into the side of the housing 25a is a short shaft I69 with a bevel gear I at its inner end that meshes with a bevel gear "I secured to the lower end of the jack screw I8a and resting on a thrust bearing I12 in the bottom of said housing. By means of a shaft section 21a with universal joints, the short shaft I69 is connected with a short shaft I10 that extends into a housing 30a attached to the platform I3a at the frontend of the truck. Looseon the shaft I10 within the housing 30a is a pair of oppositely arranged bevel pinions 43a, 44a, in mesh with a master gear 45a on a vertical shaft I1I. Through a pair of intermeshing spur gears I 12, I13 within the housing 30a, the shaft I1I is arranged to be driven from another vertical shaft 5Ia which is coupled with av flexible shaft 52a leading from the motor of the bogey. truck. Splined to the 

